DIY

I am not too big into DIY projects...at least at this point in my life. But I do like to dabble in them from time to time. Of course, I do scrapbook but that is different!

While waiting for Adam to arrive I did make a star name display for his room. I found all of the materials at Michael's and spent until $10. The scrapbooking paper is Bo Bunny and it's from Archivers. The print on the paper was the inspiration for the alien/space/star theme of his room. I also decorated a frame for his dresser with the same red paint and characters from the scrapbooking paper.

To make the star name display I:
* painted the stars red
* painted the edges of the letters blue
* glue scrapbooking paper to letters, using mod podge, and then cut around letter shape with an exacto knife.
* went back when dry to touch up blue paint on sides of letters
* glued letters to stars with wood glue
* let dry and then mounted to the wall using photo frame holders (since they are so light weight)

We placed this star name display on the wall by Adam's crib. He enjoyed looking at it and the colors contrast nicely against his wall.

LOST

Ahhh, I love LOST! Such a great show....so good that I am watching over again. I know I mentioned it in my previous post but I wanted to devote a whole post to the show since it's THAT good!!!!

Currently Adam is sleeping and I am catching up on e-mails, Facebook and such. My show of choice to watch during this time (and during Adam's feedings and pumping) is LOST. Netflix has it on it's streaming option and since we have a Roku player I can stream it right to the TV in the living room. Very convenient!

I started re-watching the series about a month ago and am now just starting season 4. It's so great to watch again knowing all the secrets and mysteries of the show. I am picking up little hints and clues about what is to come along the way. Very fun!!!!

*****Spoiler Alert*******

If you haven't watched the show and plan on it, do not read any further!


Here are some of my favorite show moments:

When Jin and Sun are reunited after the raft attempt and he returns to the island with the "tailies", Sawyer and Michael.

When John discovers the hatch and blows it open

When Charlie saves the day (sad...but great episode)

When Sawyer jumps from the helicopter and ends up back on the island and meets Juliet on the beach and they see the smoke from the freighter

There are SO many more but those are just a few of my favorites...more to come. I found the following two pictures on the web...cool!

Maternity Leave

I have been on maternity leave for about 7 1/2 weeks. It's awesome and I have LOVED having the time with Adam. We keep pretty busy by visiting friends and family or just running errands around River Falls and Hudson. Of course, I take plenty of pictures of Adam too. He must be sick of me shoving the camera in his face! Here is a recent shot:

We have been so lucky to have such nice weather this fall. Today is a bit on the chilly side so we have stayed inside. Adam has actually be sleeping for a while now which is why I have some extra time to blog. Granted the kitchen isn't cleaned up and the laundry isn't started...but I have enjoy scrapbooking and some TV time. My latest show is LOST. I watched it while it aired on TV but it's been fun to re-watch it. I have a lot of downtime for TV when feeding Adam or pumping so I get to see quite a few episodes in a day. Next up for TV series viewing will be Grey's and then Parenthood.

I am looking forward to going back to school and will be ready when the time comes. I think I am most anxious about the transition and figuring out everything that comes with the change of going back to work; getting Adam to daycare, pumping, getting enough sleep, and lesson planning! I know it will all fall into place but I can't help but be a little anxious already. Of course, I am going to miss being home with Adam and having so much time together but I also really miss teaching at this point and am excited to get back!

MN State Fair

One of my favorite things to do this time of year....visit the MN State Fair!!!! This year was extra special because it was Adam's first time. Mom, Erik and I got Adam ready and headed to the Fair early last Sunday. We arrive around 8:30 and stayed until around 1:30. Adam was so well behaved the whole time and really enjoyed the stroller ride! He ate once when we got there and slept for much of the rest of the day. Mom, Erik and I enjoyed all the sights, shopping and food. We ate deep fried pickles, mini donuts, malts from the dairy building, and lunch at O'Gara's. It was a wonderful day!!!!

Jericho

So I have started watching Jericho on Netflix. I was looking for a show to watch during the day while feeding Adam. It's nice to be in the living room with the outside light coming in and sometimes I enjoy just staring outside, watching the birds. I also love watching Adam while he eats! But, sometimes I need something more to hold my attention and since there is NOTHING decent on TV I decided to see what Netflix had to offer.

I was really hoping Sex and the City would be available on instant streaming because I haven't watched that show in so long. I used to watched the whole series every summer! It was the best and so entertaining. I would get sucked in and watch 6 episodes in a row before realizing I should be doing something more productive with a beautiful summer day. Anyway, since S & C wasn't available I searched for something else and came up with Jericho.

I am currently on episode 20...I think there are 29 total. I am a little worried because I know the show was cancelled when originally on TV so I hope there is a ending or at least a wrap up episode at the end. Either way, I am enjoying the show. It got off to a great and fast start with many unknowns that have been revealed throughout the season. I'll be interested to see how the next 9 shows go.

Any recommendations for a series to watch after Jericho? I'd love to watch LOST or Alias again but I do not think they are available on instant streaming or Hulu, but I'll have to check.

Adam is here!!!!!!

Well my world has forever changed in such a wonderful way!!!! Little Adam Larry Andracek is here. He came during my 39th week of pregnancy at just the right time. I was really starting to feel ready and getting uncomfortable. The 2 days prior to his birth I just wanted to be at home and relax. Once Adam decided it was time to come into the world he came quickly. 5 1/2 hours after I arrived at the hospital he was here!!!!!

Adam is just over 2 weeks old now and things are going well. He is somewhat fussy right before bed time and we are trying to work that out. Otherwise, he is happy! Eating and sleeping well and enjoying his awake time too. He loves to look around, especially out the window.

Thank you to all of our friends and family that have visited. It's been wonderful to see you all!!!!

Adam~4 days old

Crossword Puzzles

I have acquired a small obsession with crossword puzzles! It is totally Erik's fault. He started doing the NY Times crossword in the St. Paul Pioneer Press when he would sub and have a break with nothing to do. Well, now that it's summer, he does them in the morning with his coffee and it just seemed relaxing....so I found a few sites on-line that offer daily crosswords. I love it! At first I would really struggled but I have already learned a few tricks and "rules" that the puzzles follow. My favorite sites are:
www.usatoday.com
www.latimes.com

Great book series

I just finished the 3rd book in the "moon" series by Susan Beth Pfeffer. This series is for young adults (which is a type of genre I just love to read!) and the author is toying with the idea of a 4th book....which I am really hoping there is. I will post more on my goodreads.com site too but I give the 3rd book 5 stars! This World We live In ties together the first two books by having characters from each join together in their struggle to live in a world where life has forever changed. If you liked The Hunger Game you will enjoy the moon series.....not as distribing yet there are still life struggles and choices that need to be made.

I am trying to read as many books as possible right now because once the baby comes I am sure that will change!

Vacation in a Cup

I LOVE the new drink at Caribou!!!! It's called a Vacation in a Cup and it is a coconut and macadamia nut flavored mocha. You can get it in chococlate, dark chocolate or white chocolate. I definitely recommend the white chocolate!!!! YUM!

Kathie Lee and Hoda AGAIN!

Seriously, these gals are funny! Now they are drinking Lilac Wine. Really?!?! I think it's just an excuse so they can drink on TV. Love it!

Yes, I am on another snow day! Crazy because it's March 23rd! But the cul-de-sac is still not plowed at 10:15 am so I am glad I didn't have to drive. However, now I have to cram everything I was going to go today into Thursday and Friday....or carry it over to next week. Either way it's a bit of a pain....but this girl can always use a relaxing day at home! 23 weeks today!!!!! :)

Feeling Better....Finally!

Well, I think my latest cold is finally gone...for the most part. I still have a stuffy nose at times but maybe it's just "that time of year"? I'll be so happy for spring, as I have already commented on this week!

Spring Break is coming to a close here. It was a good one, very relaxing which is what I needed. I am actually excited to go back to school....it's already the middle of March! Things are looking up :) Just hope all the kids in my class go rid of their sickness too.....we had Chicken Pox, Scarlet Fever and Strep Throat the week before break! YIKES!

Started drinking coffee again, not a lot, just one cup a day but boy is it good. Plus I found a new creams, Almond Joy! Yum....I sure love coconut!

Erik is coming a long very well on the basement. Check out his blog and see the progress. The address is: http://epicbasementremodel.blogspot.com/
We made a huge trip to Menards and Home Depot yesterday. Lots of returns and lots of purchases. Let the next phase begin!

Spring????

Yes, I am actually posting twice in one day!!!! That is Spring Break for ya ;)

WOW! Is it nice out. I feel Spring just around the corner. The sun is shining, the snow is melting!!!!! LOVE IT! Now we need to get the Christmas lights down....I know, they should have been down in January but there was too much snow. It would have been virtually impossible. They have been turned off since January, they are just still up. I am so excited to get this snow melted, slowly of course, and to see the first sprouts of new spring flowers. I will have my camera ready and also probably some flowers to share. If you are interested, let me know! My gardens have expanded themselves quite well. I need to make more space...which probably won't happen this spring, so I'll be looking for new homes!

Spring Break Random!

Okay, so have any of you ever watched The Today Show with Hoda and Kathy Lee. It's on at 10:00 here (I think it's call the 4th hour of The Today Show?). I have only seen it a few times but since I am off for Spring Break and just chillin' on the couch today I thought I would have it on in the background. Well, it is hysterical in a weird sort of way. I first knew about this show by watching SNL. They do a parody of the show and it is hilarious!!!!! And, the parody is EXACTLY like the real show! OMG, this can't be real! Right now Hoda and Kathy Lee are drinking wine from a can....now Hoda is singing along to a song.....Kathy is making all this horrible comments about Hoda. WOW!

Seriously, if you haven't seen the parody. Watch that first. Here is a link: http://www.hulu.com/watch/132874/saturday-night-live-today-show

This shit is funny!

New Pregnancy Site

I really disliked the original pregnancy website I set up so today I decided to find a better one. So, the new site is: http://www.babyhomepages.net/babyandracek
If you want to check it out, let me know. I can give you the required username and password.

It's a BOY!!!

Today we had our first ultra sound. What an amazing experience!!!! The Dr. showed us so many neat things about our baby, including that he is a boy. The baby is measuring right at 20 weeks, which is what we had calculated too. Half way there today!!!!

I know....I know....

Yes, it's been a while since I have written a new post. I feel like I have some good reasoning.....hear me out:
1. Beginning of the school year....never time to think let alone blog ;)
2. We found out in November the I am pregnant and I didn't want to share the news with the world until now. Sure....I could have written about other things but....I didn't!

So, our big news is that we are expecting our first child on July 20th. I have a pregnancy website, so please e-mail me if you are interested in viewing it. I'll send you the web address and password.

Other than that we have been working hard on finishing our basement....actually, Erik has been working hard. I really haven't done much. Not because I don't want to but because I really can't. I don't know how to frame walls, put in insulation, etc. Erik's brothers and some friends have come to help and they know what they are doing so it's easy for them to get to work. I have made many trips to Menards with Erik and helped do some minor unloading of materials. Erik has a wonderful blog about the basement. Check it out at: http://epicbasementremodel.blogspot.com/

That's all for now. I will try to update this blog on a more regular basis...but the pregnancy site will definitely have current/regular posts.

Happy 2011!!!!!